> I see. So "Nan da yo?" said by a flirtatious woman and a neurotic > gangster are two different things. Right?
Well, "Nan da yo?" is along the lines of a very irritated and impatient "WHAT!?" It's not really an insult, it's just rude. So you may expect that anyone saying that is really not pleased with you. Japanese insults are much more subtle than that. Sure, there are open insults and swear words, but in Japanese, depending on the situation, someone can offend you by simply using the wrong word for "you". Or pronouncing that word with the wrong voice. Or by using "you" at all. It's all in the context. > I see. Again. Then again, using the wrong style of speech in the > wrong situation is the same as taboo speech, as far as I know. > Imagine using "hanashikotoba" when speaking to a doctor, vs. > using "sonkeigo" when talking to your friends. An elderly man once > told me not to use any "sonkeigo" in my [e-mail] conversations with > him, but instead to use "teineigo"; using "agaru" with my verbs > seemed snobbish on my part. Well, you'd talk politely to an elderly person you respect in English too, right? Makes sense. English doesn't have that distinction, but, for example, in French and my own language (Serbian) there are different words and for talking to someone who you know well and someone you don't know/respect/who is older than you. > That is why I am seriously studying what style to use in what > situation. If I make friends, I do not want to be caught in the know- > nothing and my Japanese sounding "unnatural". I have yet to master > the different styles of speech found in Japanese. I may even be > required to address the Emperor or one of his household. (Unlikely, > but you never know.) You'd use "keigo" with someone so high up the ladder, but as you said, you're not that likely to need it :) Marina On 2/15/07, ai3131 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In > [email protected]<Japanese_Language%40yahoogroups.com>, > Ainslie Mark > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Learning insults are fun and a small, but important > > part of language learning. Japanese insults are > > (mostly) different to Western (English) insults in > > that it is generally the tone of the voice and body > > language that turn a word into an insult.> > > I see. So "Nan da yo?" said by a flirtatious woman and a neurotic > gangster are two different things. Right? > > > Often high school students use this kind of language, > > but in an affectionate way. I remember being called > > 'ba--ka!' when I was an exchange student - whenever I > > made a silly joke - you know the kind of joke only > > your parents might say!> > > I see. Again. Then again, using the wrong style of speech in the > wrong situation is the same as taboo speech, as far as I know. > Imagine using "hanashikotoba" when speaking to a doctor, vs. > using "sonkeigo" when talking to your friends. An elderly man once > told me not to use any "sonkeigo" in my [e-mail] conversations with > him, but instead to use "teineigo"; using "agaru" with my verbs > seemed snobbish on my part. > > > If you were just to know 'textbook' (formal) Japanese, > > it comes across as stiff and as a barrier to effective > > communication, so learning slang (including insults) > > puts you on a more intimate level with Japanese > > people. I'd feel more at home with a non-native > > English speaker who said 'G'day mate, how are ya?' > > (yes, I'm an Aussie), than someone who spoke formally > > and said 'Good day, sir. How goes you on this fine > > day? ' It's just not right ... > > > > Mark> > > That is why I am seriously studying what style to use in what > situation. If I make friends, I do not want to be caught in the know- > nothing and my Japanese sounding "unnatural". I have yet to master > the different styles of speech found in Japanese. I may even be > required to address the Emperor or one of his household. (Unlikely, > but you never know.) > > - Arian I. > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Japanese_Language/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Japanese_Language/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
